American Clean Power issues annual renewable energy report

According to the American Clean Power Assn’s (ACP, Washington, D.C., U.S.) “Clean Power Annual Market Report 2021,” last year marked a record year for clean power, surpassing 200 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity. But despite this laudable progress, 2021’s pace of clean energy deployment must accelerate at a more rapid rate to meet U.S. climate and emissions goals. While 2021 installations of solar and storage soared and costs remained low, ACP says bottlenecks in transmission and policy uncertainty threaten to stall future development. 

ACP captured national highlights for 2021. In that year alone, 594 clean power projects were built across 44 states, totaling 28.5 GW of operating capacity. Highlighted in purple are clean power projects that were brought online in 2021, including:

• Alamitos Battery Energy Storage Center (Long Beach, Calif., U.S.): 100 megawatts (MW) / 400 megawatt-hours (MWh)
• Western Spirit Wind (New Mexico): 1,056 MW
• Juno (solar, Borden County, Texas, U.S.): 300 MW of solar power
• Manatee Solar Energy Center (Parrish, Fla., U.S.): 74.5 MW solar, 409 MW / 900 MWh storage

• Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Pilot Project (Virg., U.S.): 12 MW

In the race to a clean power economy, ACP says some states lead the clean power transition, while others are catching up. Cumulatively, the nation increased operating clean power capacity in 2021 by 17%. Alabama, Virginia and Connecticut had the highest growth rates, and 18 states saw a 20% or more increase in clean power capacity. 

Texas, however, led the country in clean power installations in 2021, installing 7,690 MW. California came in second with 2,852 MW installed, followed by Oklahoma with 1,408 MW and Florida with 1,382 MW. In total, seven states installed more than 1 GW of new clean power capacity in 2021.

Texas was also the top installer of the year for both wind (3,343 MW) and solar (3,768 MW) and came in second behind California for storage additions (579 MW). California installed 1,371 MW of new storage capacity in 2021.

Regarding industry headwinds, ACP reports that roughly 10 GW of clean power capacity originally expected online in 2021 was delayed, in some cases indefinitely. Within the context of energy targets, they say clean energy deployment needs to scale much faster.

Looking into 2022 and beyond, inflation, supply chain issues and the uncertainty of tax policy and lack of predictable regulatory action for renewable energy are all expected to have a concerning impact on the nation’s ability to deliver growth. Further, continued and arguably heightened uncertainty brought about by challenges to existing trade precedent — like this year’s Department of Commerce inquiry into solar module tariffs — are already taking a toll. Previously expected to experience robust growth, utility solar now faces modules shortages and trade risks that are delaying projects or even causing them to be canceled. 

To receive a more comprehensive review on the progress and challenges of U.S. clean energy in 2021, download the full report.